CHICO &GT;&GT; Saturday was showtime for 4-H and FFA students who have worked for months to prepare for the big day at auction. Animals were given a last minute once-over before students lined up along the holding pens for their short stroll in front of a packed crowd.

Auctioneer Gerald Darling prompted the buyers, speaking in English but a dialect that did not require him to take a breath.

The animals had been washed and brushed clean of sawdust and were displayed one-by-one to show their size and form.

Les Heringer and Larry Rinehart watched the crowd intently, arms raised as they prepared for a jerk of their arms to signify a bid, sometimes letting out a quick call to the auctioneer, who did not miss a beat.

This year the auction grossed roughly $808,000, which is a new record, Silver Dollar Fair Manager Scott Stoller said. Last year's sale was roughly $628,000.

Chet Hervey, age 15, was not able to make it across the sawdust to the showing area. His crutches were leaning against the pen where he primped his 256-pound hog Bullseye.

Hervey injured his leg in a wrestling match several weeks ago, but his sister agreed to take his animal to the auction ring. Bullseye is the Core Butte Charter School student's first pig, but he's sold four sheep in the past. After feeding and other costs, he has a few thousand dollars in the bank, to which he would add his earnings from this weekend.

It's not a ton of money, but it adds up, and Hervey said he's learned to become more organized and to be "on top of everything." Most days he was awake at 6 a.m. to ensure his animal was fed separately from those of his siblings.

Bailey Rau's steer, Shaggy, was looking fairly hairy Saturday afternoon, which is no small accomplishment. To prevent his animal from shedding hair in the heat, Rau gave Shaggy an ice bath twice a day. More hair looks better in the showroom, the 17-year-old Chico High School student explained.

An ice bath means he fills a bucket with ice, then adds water until its cool, and runs the water down Shaggy's back.

"He loves it," Rau said.

The steer is the second bovine Rau has raised, and is one of many animals he has brought to auction since age 9.

Yet, this is the first animal to which he has grown attached.

Shaggy has an especially good temperament, and is somewhat of a "teddy bear," the 4-H student said.

Rau grew up in a family that raises sheep on land north of Chico, and he's been saving his auction earnings for college. In the fall he'll attend Drexel University in Philadelphia to study mechanical engineering.

When asked if he might end up living in a big city once he earns his college diploma, Rau said he's not certain.

His father works building hullers and shellers, so Rau said he might find a career that doesn't take him to large metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, over in the auction arena, things were moving quickly. Bidders were given yellow signs to more easily identify the buyers from the onlookers. Most of the names announced were local businesses, as well as several individuals who support the local livestock programs.

Rau explained that the animals sold would be taken from the fair Saturday night. Those that remain today and Monday had been raised for breeding stock.